Olympics still beckon

NEW ZEALAND failed to qualify for next year’s London Olympics at the world championships in Hungary last month, but K2 coach Andras Szabo is confident Gisborne’s Darryl Fitzgerald will be representing New Zealand in London.
“Darryl and Steven Ferguson have one more chance to qualify, at the Oceania Championship in Australia in March,” Szabo said.
“They made one mistake in Hungary — they put too much pressure on themselves and paddled 1.9 seconds slower than they should have.
“We were there for four weeks and in every time trial they paddled faster than they did at the champs.”
In the B final they posted the world’s second-fastest time of the year. If they had done that in the A final, it would have given them an automatic spot for London.
“At this level one mistake is all it takes to put you out of the running but they showed in the B final they have the speed to beat their Australian rivals in Penrith.
“As in all sports, it is all about what you do on the day that counts. They have to win in Australia.
“It’s all about winning. I’m confident they can win.”
Szabo, who spent three weeks visiting family in Hungary after the world champs, said Fitzgerald’s determination to succeed was evident when he (Szabo) returned to Gisborne.
“I thought Darryl might have been a bit down but he had already started training without me. He was training with Jasper Batts, the best under-23 paddler in the country.”
Although Fitzgerald and Ferguson beat their Australian rivals in Germany, Szabo said the Aussies would have an advantage padding on their home waters.
“It’s probably hard for non-paddlers to understand that water can make a difference.
“The water in New Zealand is hard, which can cause shoulder injuries, whereas in Australia it is softer. The Australian paddlers are also used to training and competing on their Olympic man-made course.
“They also have the advantage of training with the start blocks used at the world champs and the Olympics, which we don’t have in New Zealand.
“Not having the start blocks is like a sprinter not being able to train with his start blocks then having to use them on the day of competition.
“The Aussies have had them for years. Our guys only come across them a few times a year.
“Start blocks are expensive but it would be great if we had them in New Zealand.
“It may not seem a lot but all these things can make a difference. But if Darryl and Steven paddle to their potential they can win.”
Szabo and Fitzgerald will head to Rotorua in two weeks for the Blue Lake one and two competitions, plus a three-day training camp.
“Rotorua is halfway between Auckland and Gisborne, and the water is good up there. After that we will come together every two or three weeks to do special K2 training, which is not just about fitness but probably more about stability and paddling together.
“We have the nationals in February and then the Oceania champs, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the top two inches — the mental aspect of competing.”